The three learners who were arrested in connection with the stabbing of four other learners at the TM Letlhake Secondary School in Simunye are set to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, September 21.
This was confirmed by Bekkersdal Police spokesperson Linkie Lefakane, following the incident on September 14 at the school premises.
Also read: School fight almost costs lives: Three learners arrested, four injured
Two of the suspects are 17 years old while the third is 16. They face charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Lefakane confirmed to the Herald that one of the learners who was admitted to Leratong Hospital in Kagiso with stab wounds had since been discharged and was in a stable condition.
The Herald also spoke to Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona who called the incident a disruption to teaching and learning, adding that approximately 50 learners linked to the incident have since been suspended.
There was a parents meeting on September 16 and it was resolved that schooling would resume on September 19 and the perpetrators be identified. Those learners have since been identified and were suspended on September 20; we must add that teaching and learning have proceeded as normal,” said Mabona.
All schools are bound by section 9(1) of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 in terms of which a School Governing Body may, on reasonable grounds and as a precautionary measure, suspend a learner who is suspected of serious misconduct from attending school, but may only enforce such suspension after the learner has been granted a reasonable opportunity to make representations to it in relation to such suspension.
“If a learner is suspended, the School Governing Body must conduct the disciplinary proceedings within seven days of the suspension, failing which, the governing body must obtain the approval of the Head of Department for the continuation of the suspension of such a learner.
It must be noted that the school’s code of conduct will assist further in highlighting key transgressions thereof,” said Mabona who added that calm has been restored at the school.
He urged learners to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools and added that it conduct will not be tolerated
